Monday, August 18, 2008

Reintroduced tree helps birds

I wandered into a meeting at 9am this morning and walked out about half three. My mind is a tadge frazzled. Actually went pretty well, everyone else now understands why I am a bit nervous :D

You will "all" have read how frequent early weather means blue tits and great tits have been laying eggs ahead of schedule, this made it difficult for them to find food.

However a study by the University of Edinburgh has discovered that the birds have been feeding on gall wasps rather than the usual young caterpillars. The Gall wasps make there home in Turkey Oaks which were reintroduced in to Britain three centuries.

It had been feared that the Turkey oak might pose a threat to native plants and animals. The species was native to Britain before the last ice age 120,000 years ago.

According to Dr Graham Stone of the university
The reintroduction of Turkey oak and the re-invasion of gall wasps into northern Europe may simply represent restoration of a previous natural situation.

As the Turkey oak re-asserts itself in its ancient home, it is helping to alleviate some of the effects of the very modern problem of climate change.

2 comments:

Jane Adams said...

That's really interesting. Amazing how birds can adapt, in order to feed themselves. I guess it has come round in an enormous circle. I will have to look out for a turkey oak nearby.

oldcrow61 said...

Interesting stuff.

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